Therapeutic composition with enhanced endothelium targeting

ABSTRACT

A composition that includes nanoparticles with binding affinity for platelets, and methods for using this composition to treat vascular disease are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/714,439 filed on Mar. 5, 2007 and entitled “THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONWITH ENHANCED ENDOTHELIUM TARGETING,” which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a therapeutic composition with enhancedendothelium targeting, and methods of using the composition for treatinga vascular disease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The traditional method of administering therapeutic agents to treatdiseases of the internal organs and vasculature has been by systemicdelivery. Systemic delivery involves administering a therapeutic agentat a discrete location followed by the agent migrating throughout thepatient's body including, of course, to the afflicted organ or area ofthe vasculature. But to achieve a therapeutic amount of the agent at theafflicted site, an initial dose substantially greater than thetherapeutic amount must be administered to account for the dilution theagent undergoes as it travels through the body. Systemic deliveryintroduces the therapeutic agent in two ways: into the digestive tract(enteral administration) or into the vascular system (parenteraladministration), either directly, such as injection into a vein or anartery, or indirectly, such as injection into a muscle or into the bonemarrow. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity,the ADMET factors, strongly influence delivery by each of these routes.For enteric administration, factors such as a compound's solubility, itsstability in the acidic environs of the stomach and its ability topermeate the intestinal wall all affect drug absorbtion and thereforeits bioavailability. For parenteral delivery, factors such as enzymaticdegradation, lipophilic/hydrophilic partitioning coefficient, lifetimein circulation, protein binding, etc. will affect the agent'sbioavailability.

At the other end of the spectrum is local delivery, which comprisesadministering the therapeutic agent directly to the afflicted site. Withlocalized delivery, the ADMET factors tend to be less important thanwith systemic administration because administration is essentiallydirectly to the treatment site. Thus, the initial dose can be at or veryclose to the therapeutic amount. With time, some of the locallydelivered therapeutic agent may diffuse over a wider region, but that isnot the intent of localized delivery, and the diffused agent'sconcentration will ordinarily be sub-therapeutic, i.e., too low to havea therapeutic effect. Nevertheless, localized delivery of therapeuticagents is currently considered a state-of-the-art approach to thetreatment of many diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis.

Localized delivery of therapeutic agents includes the targeted deliveryof therapeutic agent-containing compositions. This method can consist ofadministering a composition containing a therapeutic agent and atargeting moiety designed to interact specifically with a biochemicalentity present at, and exclusive to, the afflicted site in thevasculature.

The therapeutic agent-containing compositions can include nanoparticles.Nanoparticles, whose maximum linear dimension is no greater than about400 nm, have the ability to penetrate a vessel wall. This abilityprovides an effective means to deliver a therapeutic agent at a diseasesite. However, a means to administer nanoparticles without losing asubstantial fraction to the systemic circulation or to targetnanoparticles to an endothelium is lacking in the art.

The present invention provides a nanoparticle-containing compositionwith enhanced endothelium targeting and a method of using thecomposition for the treatment of vascular disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a composition that includes a pluralityof nanoparticles including a first functional group with bindingaffinity for platelets operatively coupled to a surface of thenanoparticles and an optional second functional group with bindingaffinity for endothelium likewise operatively coupled to the surface ofthe nanoparticles.

In various aspects, the first functional group includes one or morefirst peptides, first proteins, first oligonucleotides or anycombination thereof. In one embodiment, the one or more first peptide isan antibody fragment. In another embodiment, the one or more firstoligonucleotide is an aptamer. In other embodiments, the one or morefirst protein can be an affibody or an antibody. When the one or morefirst protein is an antibody it can be an anti-p selectin, ananti-platelet factor, an anti-glycoprotein Ia-IIa complex, ananti-glycoprotein Ib, an anti-glycoprotein IIIa, an anti-glycoproteinIIb-IIIa complex, an anti-glycoprotein IV, an anti-glycoprotein VI, ananti-von Willebrand factor, an anti-α-granule membrane glycoprotein, ananti-platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule, an anti-CD 49b, ananti-PAR-1, an anti-ADP receptor, an anti-αβ1 integrin, an anti-αβ1integrin, an anti-αβ1 integrin, an anti-αIIbβ3 integrin, ananti-TREM-like transcript-1, an anti-Eph kinase, an anti-ephrin, ananti-ITIM-containing receptor and an anti-thrombospondin, or anycombination thereof.

In various aspects, the second functional group includes one or moresecond peptides, second proteins, second oligonucleotides or anycombination thereof. In various embodiments, the one or more secondpeptide can be an antibody fragment or a peptide with an RGD sequence.In another embodiment, the one or more second oligonucleotide is anaptamer. In other embodiments, the one or more second protein can be anaffibody or an antibody. When the one or more second protein is anantibody it can be an anti-intercellular adhesion molecule, ananti-vascular cellular adhesion molecule, an anti-platelet endothelialcell adhesion molecule, an anti-thrombomodulin, an anti-e-selectin, ananti-fibronectin, an anti-sialyl-Lewis[b] glycan, an anti-endothelialglycocalyx protein and an anti-cadherin, or any combination thereof.

In various aspects, the nanoparticles include a bioactive agentencapsulated within, adhered to a surface of or integrated into thestructure of the nanoparticles.

In various aspects, the nanoparticles can include micelles, liposomes,polymersomes, hydrogel particles or polymer particles.

The nanoparticle can have a maximum linear dimension of 1000 nanometers.

The bioactive agent can be a corticosteroid, everolimus, zotarolimus,sirolimus, a sirolimus derivative, paclitaxel, a bisphosphonate, ApoA1,a mutated ApoA1, ApoA1 milano, an ApoA1 mimetic peptide, an ABC A1agonist, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agent, ananti-angiogenic agent, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or a tissueinhibitor of metalloproteinase.

In various aspects, the nanoparticles can include a biodegradable orbioerodable material. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles canbiodegrade or bioerode within 1.0 second to 100 hours, within 10.0seconds to 10 hours or within 1.0 minute to 1 hour.

In various aspects the nanoparticles can include an optional thirdfunctional group with binding affinity for vascular cell wall componentsoperatively coupled to the surface of the nanoparticles.

In various aspects the third functional group includes one or morelipids, third peptides, third proteins, third oligonucleotides or anycombination thereof. In various embodiments, the one or more lipids caninclude lipophilic molecules such as an oleic acid, a stearic acid or anoleate derivative. In one embodiment, the one or more thirdoligonucleotide can be an aptamer. In another embodiment, the one ormore third peptide can be an antibody fragment. In further embodiments,the one or more third protein can be an affibody or an antibody. Whenthe one or more third protein is an antibody it can be an anti-elastin,an anti-collagen, an anti-tissue factor, an anti-laminin or anycombination thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forlocalizing nanoparticles to a blood vessel wall. The method involvesproviding a composition according to the invention and administering thecomposition to a blood vessel in a patient.

In various aspects, administering the composition to a blood vessel in apatient involves intraarterial delivery. In various embodiments,intraarterial delivery involves percutaneous transluminal coronaryarterial delivery or using a catheter.

In one embodiment, the nanoparticles include a bioactive agent, therebyproviding a means for treating a vascular disease in a patient.

In various aspects, a composition of the invention can further includeplatelets. In various embodiments, the platelets are autologous,allogenic or xenogenic.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forlocalizing nanoparticles to a blood vessel wall. The method involvesproviding a composition of the invention that further includes plateletsand administering the composition to a blood vessel in a patient.

In various aspects, administering the composition to a blood vessel in apatient involves intraarterial delivery. In various embodiments,intraarterial delivery involves percutaneous transluminal coronaryarterial delivery or using a catheter.

In one embodiment, the nanoparticles include a bioactive agent, therebyproviding a means for treating a vascular disease in a patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In many instances, localized intravascular administration of therapeuticagents would comprise a significant improvement in the art. But thereare special considerations that must be taken into account in thedevelopment of a localized, intravascular drug-delivery system. Forexample, the system should not promote clotting or thrombogenesis.Moreover, the system should take into account the fact that constantblood flow through the vasculature results in rapid dilution of thedrug. The present invention provides a drug delivery system that cansafely be delivered intravascularly and which can be specificallytargeted to a disease site locale to release therapeutic agent for adesired amount of time.

The present invention provides a composition that includes a pluralityof nanoparticles that include a first functional group with bindingaffinity for platelets operatively coupled to the nanoparticle's surfaceand an optional second functional group with binding affinity forendothelium also operatively coupled to the nanoparticle's surface.Driven by hemodynamics, platelets tend to populate the blood volumeclose to a vessel wall, whereas larger cells such as red or white bloodcells tend to localize more in the center of the vessel lumen. Thus, bybinding bioactive agent-loaded nanoparticles to platelets thecomposition of the invention will have the ability to specificallylocalize near a vessel wall, thereby providing a novel means for thetargeted delivery of a bioactive agent to a vascular disease locale.

As used herein, “nanoparticle” refers to a microscopic particle,composed of one or more polymers, whose size in nanometers (nm) includesa maximum linear dimension of less than 1000 nanometers. As used herein,linear dimension refers to the distance between any two points on ananoparticle as measured in a straight line. Nanoparticles of thepresent invention can be irregular, oblong, spindle, rod, discoid,pancake, cylindrical, red blood cell-like, spherical or substantiallyspherical in shape as long as their shape and size allow bindinginteractions with platelets.

As used herein, “substantially spherical” refers to a shape that is notperfectly spherical but has a generally spherical shape, e.g., anellipsoid.

As used herein, a “polymer” refers to a molecule(s) composed of aplurality of repeating structural units connected by chemical bonds.

Several types and configurations of nanoparticles are encompassed by thepresent invention. For example, nanoparticles may be composed of a rangeof materials including, but not limited to, a biostable polymer, abioabsorbable polymer or a combination thereof. Biostable refers topolymers that are not degraded in vivo, i.e., are not biodegradable. Theterms bioabsorbable, biodegradable, and bioerodable, as well asabsorbed, degraded and eroded are used interchangeably (unless thecontext shows otherwise) and refer to polymers that are capable of beingdegraded or absorbed after being delivered to a disease locale in apatient, e.g., when exposed to bodily fluids such as blood, and that canbe gradually resorbed, absorbed, and/or eliminated by the body.

Nanoparticles of the present invention can include biodegradable andbioerodable materials that, after delivery, biodegrade or bioerodewithin 1.0 second to 100 hours, within 10.0 seconds to 10 hours orwithin 1 minute to 1 hour. Methods of forming nanoparticles with knowndegradation rates are known to those skilled in the art; see for exampleU.S. Pat. No. 6,451,338 to Gregoriadis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,804to Samuel et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,378 to Schneider et al., whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Suitable nanoparticles include micelles, liposomes, polymersomes,hydrogel particles and polymer particles.

As used herein, a “micelle” refers to a supramolecular aggregate ofamphipathic molecules in an aqueous solution. Amphiphilic molecules havetwo distinct components, differing in their affinity for a solute, mostparticularly water. The part of the molecule that has an affinity forwater, a polar solute, is said to be hydrophilic. The part of themolecule that has an affinity for non-polar solutes such as hydrocarbonsis said to be hydrophobic. When amphiphilic molecules are placed in anaqueous solution the hydrophilic moiety seeks to interact with the waterwhile the hydrophobic moiety seeks to avoid the water, i.e., theyaggregate at the surface of the water. Amphiphilic molecules that havethis effect are known as “surfactants.” When the CMC is reachedsurfactant molecules will self-assemble into spheres with thehydrophilic ends of the molecules facing out, that is, in contact withthe water forming the micelle corona and with the hydrophobic “tails”facing toward the center of the of the sphere.

Bioactive agents suspended in the aqueous medium can be entrapped andsolubilized in the hydrophobic center of micelles, which can result inan increase in the bioavailability as well as improving the stability inbiological surroundings, thereby improving the pharmacokinetics andpossibly decreasing the toxicity of the bioactive agent. In addition,because of their nanoscale size, generally from about 5 nm to about 50nm, micelles have been shown to exhibit spontaneous accumulation inpathological areas with leaky vasculature and impaired lymphaticdrainage, a phenomenon known as the Enhanced Permeability and Retentionor EPR effect.

As used herein, a “liposome” refers to a compartment that is completelyenclosed by a bilayer typically composed of phospholipids. Liposomes canbe prepared according to standard techniques known to those skilled inthe art. For example, without limitation, suspending a suitable lipid,e.g., phosphatidyl choline, in an aqueous medium followed by sonicationof the mixture will result in the formation of liposomes. Alternatively,rapidly mixing a solution of lipid in ethanol-water, for example, byinjecting a lipid through a needle into an agitated ethanol-watersolution can form lipid vessicles. Liposomes can also be composed ofother amphiphilic substances, e.g., shingomyelin or lipids containingpoly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).

As used herein, a “polymersome” refers to di- or tri-block copolymersthat are modified to form bilayer structures similar to liposomes.Depending on the length and composition of the polymers in the blockcopolymer, polymersomes can be substantially more robust that liposomes.In addition, the ability to control the chemistry of each block of theblock copolymer permits tuning of the polymersome's composition to fitthe desired application. For example, membrane thickness, i.e., thethickness of the bilayer structure, can be controlled by varying thechain length of the individual blocks. Adjusting the glass transitiontemperatures of the blocks will affect the fluidity and therefore thepermeability of the membrane. Even the mechanism of agent release can bemodified by altering the nature of the polymers.

Polymersomes can be prepared by dissolving the copolymer in an organicsolvent, applying the solution to a vessel surface, and then removingthe solvent, which leaves a film of the copolymer on the vessel wall.The film is then hydrated to form polymersomes. Dissolving the blockcopolymer in a solvent and then adding a weak solvent for one of theblocks, will also create polymersomes. Other means of preparingpolymersomes are known to those skilled in the art and are within thescope of this invention.

Polymersomes can be used to encapsulate bioactive agents by includingthe bioactive agent in the water used to rehydrate the copolymer film.Osmotically driving the bioactive agent into the core of preformedpolymersomes, a process known as force loading, may also be employed.Using a double emulsion technique, polymersomes of relativemonodispersivity and high loading efficiency are possible. The techniqueinvolves using microfluidic technology to generate double emulsionscomprising water droplets surrounded by a layer of organic solvent.These droplet-in-a-drop structures are then dispersed in a continuouswater phase. The block copolymer is dissolved in the organic solvent andself-assembles into proto-polymersomes on the concentric interfaces ofthe double emulsion. Completely evaporating the organic solvent from theshell yields the actual polymersomes. This procedure allows fine controlover the polymersome size. In addition, the ability to maintain completeseparation of the internal fluids from the external fluid throughout theprocess allows extremely efficient encapsulation.

As used herein, a “hydrogel particle” refers to a cross-linked networkof polymer chains that is absorbent but stable in an aqueousenvironment. Hydrogel particles can be used to encapsulate bioactiveagents by methods known to those skilled in the art.

As used herein, a “polymer particle” refers to a solid or porousparticle, in contrast to the shell structure of liposomes andpolymersomes and the relatively open structures of hydrogel particles.Methods for adhering a bioactive agent to the surface of or integratinga bioactive agent into the structure of a polymer particle are known tothose skilled in the art.

Polymers that may be used to prepare nanoparticles of this inventioninclude, but are not limited to, poly(N-acetylglucosamine) (Chitin),Chitosan, poly(3-hydroxyvalerate), poly(lactide-co-glycolide),poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(4-hydroxybutyrate),poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polyorthoester,polyanhydride, poly(glycolic acid), poly(glycolide), poly(L-lacticacid), poly(L-lactide), poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(D,L-lactide),poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide), poly(caprolactone),poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone), poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone),poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), polyesteramide, poly(glycolic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate),co-poly(ether-esters) (e.g. PEO/PLA), polyphosphazenes, biomolecules(such as fibrin, fibrin glue, fibrinogen, cellulose, starch, collagenand hyaluronic acid, elastin and hyaluronic acid), polyurethanes,silicones, polyesters, polyolefins, polyisobutylene andethylene-alphaolefin copolymers, acrylic polymers, vinyl halide polymersand copolymers (such as polyvinyl chloride), polyvinyl ethers (such aspolyvinyl methyl ether), polyvinylidene halides (such as polyvinylidenechloride), polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl ketones, polyvinyl aromatics(such as polystyrene), polyvinyl esters (such as polyvinyl acetate),acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers, ABS resins, polyamides (such as Nylon66 and polycaprolactam), polycarbonates including tyrosine-basedpolycarbonates, polyoxymethylenes, polyimides, polyethers,polyurethanes, rayon, rayon-triacetate, cellulose, cellulose acetate,cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellophane, cellulosenitrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose ethers, carboxymethylcellulose, fullerenes and lipids.

Nanoparticles of this invention have a first functional group withbinding affinity for platelets operatively coupled to a surface of thenanoparticles.

As used herein, “functional group” refers to a surface-expressedchemical moiety with binding affinity for a target molecule or cell wallcomponent.

As used herein, “operatively coupled” refers to the attachment of afunctional group to the surface of a nanoparticle through either director indirect means. For example, it is possible for a functional group tobe directly attached to the surface of the nanoparticle by a portion ofthe functional group itself. Alternatively, it is possible that thefunctional group is attached to the surface of the nanoparticle via anintermediate component that couples the functional group with thesurface of the nanoparticle. Such intermediate components are oftenreferred to as linkers. Linkers are di-functional molecules that canhave one moiety that chemically attaches to a nanoparticle and a secondmoiety that chemically attaches to a functional group. Any number ofintermediate components are encompassed by the present invention, andare known to those skilled in the art.

Functional groups can be localized to the surface of the nanoparticle byanchoring them to the surface. For example, a functional group withaffinity for endothelium can be covalently bonded to the hydrophilic endof an amphiphilic molecule, such as a phospholipid with a hydrophilicspacer region coupled to its headgroup, or an amphiphilic blockco-polymer, such as PEG-PLA. These anchored functional groups may thenbe localized to the surface of a nanoparticle by co-incubation of thegroups with pre-made nanoparticles, or by including these groups duringthe nanoparticle formulation process, methods of which are known tothose skilled in the art.

The first functional group with binding affinity for platelets caninclude one or more first peptides, first proteins, firstoligonucleotides or any combination thereof. When the first functionalgroup is a peptide, it can be an antibody fragment, e.g., withoutlimitation, a Fab fragment, with binding affinity for platelets. Whenthe first functional group is an oligonucleotide, it can be an aptamer.

As used herein, an “aptamer” refers to an oligonucleic acid that hasbinding affinity for a specific target, e.g., without limitation, aprotein, a nucleic acid, a specific whole cell or a particular tissue.Aptamers can be obtained by in vitro selection from a large randomsequence pool of nucleic acids, although natural aptamers are alsoencompassed by the present invention. Other methods of producingaptamers are known to those skilled in the art and are within the scopeof this invention.

When the first functional group is a first protein, it can be anaffibody or an antibody.

As used herein, an “affibody” refers to a relatively small syntheticprotein molecule that has high binding affinity for a target protein.Affibodies are composed of a three-helix bundle domain derived from theIgG-binding domain of staphylococcal protein A. The protein domainconsists of a 58 amino acid sequence, with 13 randomized amino acidsaffording a range of affibody variants. Despite being significantlysmaller than an antibody (an affibody weighs about 6 kDa while anantibody commonly weighs about 150 kDa), an affibody molecule works likean antibody since it's binding site is approximately equivalent insurface area to the binding site of an antibody.

When the first protein is an antibody, it can be selected from a groupthat includes an anti p-selectin, an anti-platelet factor, ananti-glycoprotein Ia-IIa complex, an anti-glycoprotein Ib, ananti-glycoprotein IIIa, an anti-glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex, ananti-glycoprotein IV, an anti-glycoprotein VI, an anti-von Willebrandfactor, an anti-α-granule membrane glycoprotein, an anti-plateletendothelial cell adhesion molecule, an anti-CD 49b, an anti-PAR-1, ananti-ADP receptor, an anti-α2β1 integrin, an anti-α5β1 integrin, ananti-α6β1 integrin, an anti-αIIbβ3 integrin, an anti-TREM-liketranscript-1, an anti-Eph kinase, an anti-ephrin, ananti-ITIM-containing receptor and an anti-thrombospondin, or anycombination thereof.

In addition to a first functional group with binding affinity forplatelets operatively coupled to its surface, a nanoparticle of theinvention can have an optional second functional group with bindingaffinity for endothelium operatively coupled to its surface.

The second functional group with binding affinity for endothelium caninclude one or more second peptides, second proteins, secondoligonucleotides or any combination thereof. When the second functionalgroup is a peptide, it can be a peptide with an RGD sequence or anantibody fragment, e.g., without limitation, a Fab fragment, withbinding affinity for endothelium. When the second functional group is anoligonucleotide, it can be an aptamer.

When the second functional group is a protein, it can be an affibody oran antibody. When the protein is an antibody, it can be selected from agroup that includes an anti-intercellular adhesion molecule, ananti-vascular cellular adhesion molecule, an anti-platelet endothelialcell adhesion molecule, an anti-thrombomodulin, an anti-e-selectin, ananti-fibronectin, an anti-sialyl-Lewis[b] glycan, an anti-endothelialglycocalyx protein and an anti-cadherin, or any combination thereof.

Nanoparticles of the present invention can also include an optionalthird functional group with binding affinity for vascular cell wallcomponents operatively coupled to the nanoparticles' surface.

The third functional group can include one or more lipids, thirdpeptides, third proteins, third oligonucleotides or any combinationthereof. When the third functional group is a lipid, it can be an oleicacid, a stearic acid or an oleate derivative. When the third functionalgroup is an oligonucleotide, it can be an aptamer.

When the third functional group is a peptide, it can be an antibodyfragment, e.g., without limitation, a Fab fragment, with bindingaffinity for a vascular cell wall component.

When the third functional group is a protein, it can be an affibody oran antibody. When the protein is an antibody, it can be an anti-elastin,an anti-collagen, an anti-tissue factor, an anti-laminin or anycombination thereof.

It is to be understood that nanoparticles of the present invention willnecessarily include a first functional group, as described above, butmay also optionally include a second functional group and/or a thirdfunctional group coupled to the surface of the nanoparticle, asdescribed above.

Nanoparticles of this invention have a bioactive agent encapsulatedwithin, adhered to the surface of, or integrated into its structure.

As used herein, “encapsulated within” means the bioactive agent iscontained substantially within the outer surface of the nanoparticle.

As used herein, “adhered to the surface of” means the bioactive agent iscovalently or non-covalently attached to the outer surface of thenanoparticle.

As used herein, “integrated into the structure of” means the bioactiveagent is part of the chemical structure of the material forming thenanoparticle.

As used herein, a “bioactive agent” refers to any substance that is ofmedical or veterinary therapeutic or prophylactic utility.

A therapeutic bioactive agent refers to a bioactive agent that, whenadministered in a therapeutically effective amount to a patientsuffering from a disease, has a therapeutic beneficial effect on thehealth and well-being of the patient. A therapeutic beneficial effect onthe health and well-being of a patient includes, but it not limited to:(1) curing the disease; (2) slowing the progress of the disease; (3)causing the disease to regress; or (4) alleviating one or more symptomsof the disease.

A bioactive agent also refers to an agent that, when administered to apatient, either prevents the occurrence of a disease or disorder orretards the recurrence of the disease or disorder. Such a bioactiveagent is often referred to as a prophylactic bioactive agent.

Suitable bioactive agents include, without limitation, antiproliferativeagents, anti-inflammatory agents, antineoplastics and/or antimitotics,antiplatelet, anticoagulant, antifibrin, and antithrombin drugs,cytostatic or antiproliferative agents, antibiotics, antiallergicagents, antioxidants and other bioactive agents known to those skilledin the art.

Suitable antiproliferative agents include, without limitation,actinomycin D, or derivatives or analogs thereof, i.e., actinomycin D isalso known as dactinomycin, actinomycin IV, actinomycin I₁, actinomycinX₁, and actinomycin C₁. Antiproliferative agents can be naturalproteineous agents such as a cytotoxin or a synthetic molecule, alltaxoids such as taxols, docetaxel, and paclitaxel, paclitaxelderivatives, all olimus drugs such as macrolide antibiotics, rapamycin,everolimus, structural derivatives and functional analogues ofrapamycin, structural derivatives and functional analogues ofeverolimus, FKBP-12 mediated mTOR inhibitors, biolimus, perfenidone,prodrugs thereof, co-drugs thereof, and combinations thereof.Representative rapamycin derivatives include40-O-(3-hydroxy)propyl-rapamycin,40-O-[2-(2-hydroxy)ethoxy]ethyl-rapamycin, or 40-O-tetrazole-rapamycin,40-epi-(N1-tetrazolyl)-rapamycin, prodrugs thereof, co-drugs thereof,and combinations thereof.

Suitable anti-inflammatory agents include, without limitation, steroidalanti-inflammatory agents, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, anti-inflammatory agentsinclude clobetasol, alclofenac, alclometasone dipropionate, algestoneacetonide, alpha amylase, amcinafal, amcinafide, amfenac sodium,amiprilose hydrochloride, anakinra, anirolac, anitrazafen, apazone,balsalazide disodium, bendazac, benoxaprofen, benzydamine hydrochloride,bromelains, broperamole, budesonide, carprofen, cicloprofen, cintazone,cliprofen, clobetasol propionate, clobetasone butyrate, clopirac,cloticasone propionate, cormethasone acetate, cortodoxone, deflazacort,desonide, desoximetasone, dexamethasone dipropionate, diclofenacpotassium, diclofenac sodium, diflorasone diacetate, diflumidone sodium,diflunisal, difluprednate, diftalone, dimethyl sulfoxide, drocinonide,endrysone, enlimomab, enolicam sodium, epirizole, etodolac, etofenamate,felbinac, fenamole, fenbufen, fenclofenac, fenclorac, fendosal,fenpipalone, fentiazac, flazalone, fluazacort, flufenamic acid,flumizole, flunisolide acetate, flunixin, flunixin meglumine, fluocortinbutyl, fluorometholone acetate, fluquazone, flurbiprofen, fluretofen,fluticasone propionate, furaprofen, furobufen, halcinonide, halobetasolpropionate, halopredone acetate, ibufenac, ibuprofen, ibuprofenaluminum, ibuprofen piconol, ilonidap, indomethacin, indomethacinsodium, indoprofen, indoxole, intrazole, isoflupredone acetate,isoxepac, isoxicam, ketoprofen, lofemizole hydrochloride, lomoxicam,loteprednol etabonate, meclofenamate sodium, meclofenamic acid,meclorisone dibutyrate, mefenamic acid, mesalamine, meseclazone,methylprednisolone suleptanate, momiflumate, nabumetone, naproxen,naproxen sodium, naproxol, nimazone, olsalazine sodium, orgotein,orpanoxin, oxaprozin, oxyphenbutazone, paranyline hydrochloride,pentosan polysulfate sodium, phenbutazone sodium glycerate, pirfenidone,piroxicam, piroxicam cinnamate, piroxicam olamine, pirprofen,prednazate, prifelone, prodolic acid, proquazone, proxazole, proxazolecitrate, rimexolone, romazarit, salcolex, salnacedin, salsalate,sanguinarium chloride, seclazone, sermetacin, sudoxicam, sulindac,suprofen, talmetacin, talniflumate, talosalate, tebufelone, tenidap,tenidap sodium, tenoxicam, tesicam, tesimide, tetrydamine, tiopinac,tixocortol pivalate, tolmetin, tolmetin sodium, triclonide,triflumidate, zidometacin, zomepirac sodium, aspirin (acetylsalicylicacid), salicylic acid, corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, tacrolimus,pimecorlimus, prodrugs thereof, co-drugs thereof, and combinationsthereof. The anti-inflammatory agent may also be a biological inhibitorof proinflammatory signaling molecules including antibodies to suchbiological inflammatory signaling molecules.

Suitable antineoplastics and/or antimitotics include, withoutlimitation, paclitaxel, docetaxel, methotrexate, azathioprine,vincristine, vinblastine, fluorouracil, doxorubicin hydrochloride, andmitomycin.

Suitable antiplatelet, anticoagulant, antifibrin, and antithrombin drugsinclude, without limitation, sodium heparin, low molecular weightheparins, heparinoids, hirudin, argatroban, forskolin, vapiprost,prostacyclin, prostacyclin dextran, D-phe-pro-arg-chloromethylketone,dipyridamole, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet membrane receptorantagonist antibody, recombinant hirudin and thrombin, thrombininhibitors such as Angiomax ä (Biogen, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.), calciumchannel blockers (such as nifedipine), colchicine, fish oil (omega3-fatty acid), histamine antagonists, lovastatin (an inhibitor ofHMG-CoA reductase, a cholesterol lowering drug, brand name Mevacor® fromMerck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J.), monoclonal antibodies(such as those specific for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)receptors), nitroprusside, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, prostaglandininhibitors, suramin, serotonin blockers, steroids, thioproteaseinhibitors, triazolopyrimidine (a PDGF antagonist), nitric oxide ornitric oxide donors, super oxide dismutases, super oxide dismutasemimetic, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO),estradiol, anticancer agents, dietary supplements such as variousvitamins, and a combination thereof. Examples of such cytostaticsubstance include angiopeptin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitorssuch as captopril (e.g. Capoten® and Capozide® from Bristol-Myers SquibbCo., Stamford, Conn.), cilazapril or lisinopril (e.g. Prinivil® andPrinzide® from Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J.). An exampleof an antiallergic agent is permirolast potassium. Other bioactivesubstances or agents that may be appropriate include alpha-interferon,and genetically engineered epithelial cells.

Suitable cytostatic or antiproliferative agents include, withoutlimitation, angiopeptin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors suchas captopril, cilazapril or lisinopril, calcium channel blockers such asnifedipine; colchicine, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) antagonists; fishoil (ω-3-fatty acid); histamine antagonists; lovastatin, monoclonalantibodies such as, without limitation, those specific forPlatelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) receptors; nitroprusside,phosphodiesterase inhibitors, prostaglandin inhibitors, suramin,serotonin blockers, steroids, thioprotease inhibitors,triazolopyrimidine (a PDGF antagonist) and nitric oxide.

Suitable antiallergic agents include, without limitation, permirolastpotassium.

Other suitable bioactive agents include, without limitation,alpha-interferon, genetically engineered epithelial cells, dexamethasoneand its derivatives, rapamycin derivatives and analogs such as40-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)rapamycin) (EVEROLIMUS®),40-O-(3-hydroxypropyl)rapamycin,40-O-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)]ethyl-rapamycin, and 40-O-tetrazolylrapamycin,synthetic inorganic and organic compounds, proteins and peptides,polysaccharides and other sugars, lipids, and DNA and RNA nucleic acidsequences having therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic activities,nucleic acid sequences include genes, antisense molecules which bind tocomplementary DNA to inhibit transcription, and ribozymes. Some otherexamples of suitable bioactive agents include antibodies, receptorligands, enzymes, adhesion peptides, blood clotting factors, inhibitorsor clot dissolving agents such as streptokinase and tissue plasminogenactivator, antigens for immunization, hormones and growth factors,oligonucleotides such as antisense oligonucleotides and ribozymes andretroviral vectors for use in gene therapy; antiviral agents; analgesicsand analgesic combinations; anorexics; antihelmintics; antiarthritics,antiasthmatic agents; anticonvulsants; antidepressants; antidiureticagents; antidiarrheals; antihistamines; antimigrain preparations;antinauseants; antiparkinsonism drugs; antipruritics; antipsychotics;antipyretics; antispasmodics; anticholinergics; sympathomimetics;xanthine derivatives; cardiovascular preparations including calciumchannel blockers and beta-blockers such as pindolol and antiarrhythmics;antihypertensives; diuretics; vasodilators including general coronary;peripheral and cerebral; central nervous system stimulants; cough andcold preparations, including decongestants; hypnotics;immunosuppressives; muscle relaxants; parasympatholytics;psychostimulants; sedatives; tranquilizers; naturally derived orgenetically engineered lipoproteins; and restenoic reducing agents.

Preferred bioactive agents include corticosteroids, everolimus,zotarolimus, sirolimus, sirolimus derivatives, paclitaxel,bisphosphonates, ApoA1, mutated ApoA1, ApoA1 milano, ApoA1 mimeticpeptides, ABC A1 agonists, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-proliferativeagents, anti-angiogenic agents, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors andtissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases.

The amount of bioactive agent in a nanoparticle will depend on therequired minimum effective concentration (MEC) of the agent and thelength of time over which it is desired that the MEC be maintained. Formost bioactive agents the MEC will be known to, or readily derivable by,those skilled in the art from the literature. For experimental bioactiveagents or those for which the MEC by localized delivery is not known, itcan be empirically determined using techniques well-known to thoseskilled in the art.

In some embodiments, a composition of the present invention furtherincludes platelets. The platelets can be autologous, allogenic orxenogenic in nature.

As used herein, “autologous” refers to platelets that are obtained fromthe organism in which the composition is to be administered.

As used herein, “allogenic” refers to platelets that are obtained from adifferent organism of the same species as that in which the compositionis to be administered.

As used herein, “xenogenic” refers to platelets that are obtained from adifferent species than that in which the composition is to beadministered.

Methods of isolating and purifying platelets are known to those skilledin the art.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forlocalizing nanoparticles to a blood vessel wall that includes providinga composition of the present invention and administering the compositionto a blood vessel in a patient.

Administering the composition to a blood vessel in a patient can includeintraarterial delivery of the composition. In certain embodiments,administering the composition involves percutaneous transluminalcoronary arterial delivery or using a catheter, including guiding,diagnostic and drug delivery catheters. In one embodiment, thenanoparticles can contain a bioactive agent, thereby providing a meansfor delivering a bioactive agent to a vascular disease locale in apatient.

As used herein, a “patient” refers to any organism that can benefit fromthe administration of a bioactive agent. In particular, patient refersto a mammal such as a cat, dog, horse, cow, pig, sheep, rabbit, goat ora human being.

As used herein, “treating” refers to the administration of atherapeutically effective amount of a bioactive agent to a patient knownor suspected to be suffering from a vascular disease. Bioactive agentsuseful with this invention are described above. Presently preferredbioactive agents include a corticosteroid, everolimus, zotarolimus,sirolimus, sirolimus derivatives, paclitaxel, a bisphosphonate, ApoA1, amutated ApoA1, ApoA1 milano, an ApoA1 mimetic peptide, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agent, an anti-angiogenicagent, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and a tissue inhibitor ofmetalloproteinase.

As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” refers to theamount of bioactive agent that has a beneficial effect, which may becurative or palliative, on the health and well-being of a patient withregard to a vascular disease with which the patient is known orsuspected to be afflicted. A therapeutically effective amount may beadministered as a single bolus, as intermittent bolus charges, as short,medium or long term sustained release formulations or as any combinationof these.

As used herein, “known” to be afflicted with a vascular disease refersfirst to a condition that is relatively readily observable and ordiagnosable. An example, without limitation, of such a disease isatherosclerosis, which is a discrete narrowing of a patient's arteries.Restenosis, on the other hand, while in its latter stages, likeatherosclerosis, is relatively readily diagnosable or directlyobservable, may not be so in its nascent stage. Thus, a patient may be“suspected” of being afflicted or of being susceptible to afflictionwith restenosis at some time subsequent to a surgical procedure to treatan atherosclerotic lesion. Further, while restenosis tends generally tooccur at the same locus as a previous atherosclerotic lesion, it may notbe exactly so, so a region of a segment of a vessel somewhat distantfrom the site of the initial atherosclerosis may in fact be the site ofrestenosis.

As used herein, a “vascular disease locale” refers to the locationwithin a patient's body where an atherosclerotic lesion(s) is present,where restenosis may develop, the site of vulnerable plaque(s) or thesite of a peripheral arterial disease.

An atherosclerotic lesion refers to a deposit of fatty substances,cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and/or fibrin on the innerlining or intima of an artery.

Restenosis refers to the re-narrowing or blockage of an artery at ornear the site where angioplasty or another surgical procedure waspreviously performed to remove a stenosis.

Vulnerable plaque on the other hand is quite different from eitheratherosclerosis or restenosis and would generally come under thedesignation “suspected” affliction. This is because vulnerable plaqueoccurs primarily within the wall of a vessel and does not causeprominent protrusions into the lumen of the vessel. It is often notuntil it is “too late,” i.e., until after a vulnerable plaque has brokenand released its components into the vessel, that its presence is evenknown. Numerous methods have and are being investigated for the earlydiagnosis of vulnerable plaque but to date none have proven completelysuccessful. Thus, the regional treatment of a segment of a vesselsuspected of being afflicted with vulnerable plaque may be the best wayto address such lesions.

As used herein, a peripheral arterial disease refers to a conditionsimilar to coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease in whichfatty deposits build up in the inner linings of the artery walls therebyrestricting blood circulation, mainly in arteries leading to thekidneys, stomach, arms, legs and feet.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forlocalizing nanoparticles to blood vessel wall that involves providing acomposition of the invention that further includes platelets, asdescribed above. Methods of administering the composition to a bloodvessel in a patient are described above. In one embodiment, thenanoparticles can contain a bioactive agent, thereby providing a meansfor delivering a bioactive agent to a vascular disease locale in apatient.

The present invention provides compositions that contain bioactiveagent-containing nanoparticles that have the ability to bind toplatelets. This property allows the nanoparticles to effectivelylocalize at or near a vessel wall. Specifically, due to their relativelysmall spherical shape, and driven by physiological hemodynamics,platelets localize predominately along the vessel wall. Thus,platelet-bound nanoparticles will be “pushed” to the side of the vessel,thereby accumulating at the vessel wall and the site of a vasculardisease.

While not being bound to any particular theory, it is believed that themechanism for the proceeding phenomenon relates to the flow ofnon-spherical shaped cells, i.e., red blood cells, and sphericallyshaped cells, e.g., platelets, through the vasculature. Directobservations of red blood cell paths have shown that human red bloodcells migrate away from a vessel wall whereas more spherically shapedcells migrate towards the vessel wall. Several factors involved in thiseffect include the viscosity of the medium, i.e., the blood, thediameter of the blood vessel, the rotation of the cells, the size of thecells and the shape of the cells.

Once platelet-bound bioactive agent-containing nanoparticles are pushedto the vessel wall, the optional second functional group with bindingaffinity for endothelium can secure the nanoparticles to the vesselwall, thereby decreasing the amount of bioactive agent-containingnanoparticles lost to the systemic circulation. Indeed, the optionalthird functional group with binding affinity for other vascular cellwall components can also secure the nanoparticles to the vessel wall, inparticular to vessel segments which have incomplete endothelium or whichare denuded of endothelial cells.

Once the bioactive agent-loaded nanoparticles are localized to theendothelium, and in some cases effectively bound to the endothelium, dueto the biodegradation of the nanoparticles, bioactive agent will bereleased, thereby providing a means for treating a vascular disease.

In certain embodiments, nanoparticles may possess triggered releasecapabilities, e.g., they may be heat-, sound- or light-sensitive. Thus,once nanoparticles are localized at a vessel wall, they can be triggeredto release a bioactive agent(s) by heating, light activation, orultrasound. This may be done locally through a catheter-basedintervention by an external device able to produce localized heat withina body, e.g., focused microwave radiation, or globally, e.g., byinducing fever, although in this latter case, the bioactive agent wouldstill be localized by localization of the drug carrier. Methods offorming nanoparticles with triggered release capabilities are known tothose skilled in the art.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications can be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising: a plurality ofnanoparticles comprising a first functional group with binding affinityfor platelets operatively coupled to a surface of the nanoparticles,wherein the first functional group comprises one or more firstoligonucleotides; and an optional second functional group with bindingaffinity for endothelium operatively coupled to the surface of thenanoparticles, wherein the second functional group comprises one or moresecond peptides, second proteins, second oligonucleotides or anycombination thereof.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, whereinthe one or more first oligonucleotides comprise an aptamer.
 3. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more secondpeptides comprise an RGD sequence or an antibody fragment.
 4. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more secondproteins comprise an antibody or an affibody, wherein the antibody isselected from the group consisting of an anti-intercellular adhesionmolecule, an anti-vascular cellular adhesion molecule, an anti-plateletendothelial cell adhesion molecule, an anti-thrombomodulin, ananti-e-selectin, an anti-fibronectin, an anti-sialyl-Lewis[b] glycan, ananti-endothelial glycocalyx protein and an anti-cadherin, or anycombination thereof.
 5. The composition according to claim 1, whereinthe one or more second oligonucleotides comprise an aptamer.
 6. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles comprise abioactive agent encapsulated within, adhered to a surface of orintegrated into the structure of the nanoparticles.
 7. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles comprise micelles,liposomes, polymersomes, hydrogel particles or polymer particles.
 8. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle has a maximumlinear dimension of 1000 nanometers.
 9. The composition according toclaim 6, wherein the bioactive agent is selected from the groupconsisting of a corticosteroid, everolimus, zotarolimus, sirolimus, asirolimus derivative, paclitaxel, a bisphosphonate, ApoA1, a mutatedApoA1, ApoA1 milano, an ApoA1 mimetic peptide, an ABC A1 agonist, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agent, an anti-angiogenicagent, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and a tissue inhibitor ofmetalloproteinase.
 10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein thenanoparticles comprise a biodegradable or bioerodable material.
 11. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nanoparticlesfurther comprise an optional third functional group with bindingaffinity for vascular cell wall components operatively coupled to thesurface of the nanoparticles, wherein the third functional groupcomprises one or more lipids, third peptides, third proteins, thirdoligonucleotides or any combination thereof.
 12. The compositionaccording to claim 11, wherein the one or more lipids compriselipophilic molecules selected from the group consisting of an oleicacid, a stearic acid and an oleate derivative.
 13. The compositionaccording to claim 11, wherein the one or more third proteins comprisean antibody or an affibody, wherein the antibody is selected from thegroup consisting of an anti-elastin, an anti-collagen, an anti-tissuefactor, an anti-laminin, or any combination thereof.
 14. The compositionaccording to claim 11, wherein the one or more third oligonucleotidescomprise an aptamer.
 15. A method for localizing nanoparticles to ablood vessel wall comprising: providing a composition according to claim1; and administering the composition to a blood vessel in a patient. 16.The method according to claim 15, wherein administering the compositionto a vessel in a patient comprises intraarterial delivery.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16, wherein intraarterial delivery comprisespercutaneous transluminal coronary arterial delivery.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 16, wherein intraarterial delivery comprises using acatheter.
 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein thenanoparticles comprise a bioactive agent.
 20. The composition accordingto claim 1, further comprising platelets.
 21. The composition accordingto claim 20, wherein the platelets are autologous, allogenic orxenogenic.
 22. A method for localizing nanoparticles to a blood vesselwall comprising: providing a composition according to claim 20; andadministering the composition to a blood vessel in a patient.
 23. Themethod according to claim 22, wherein administering the composition to ablood vessel in a patient comprises intraarterial delivery.
 24. Themethod according to claim 23, wherein intraarterial delivery comprisespercutaneous transluminal coronary arterial delivery.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 23, wherein intraarterial delivery comprises using acatheter.
 26. The method according to claim 22, wherein thenanoparticles comprise a bioactive agent, thereby providing a means fortreating a vascular disease in a patient.
 27. A composition comprising:a plurality of nanoparticles comprising a second functional group withbinding affinity for endothelium operatively coupled to the surface ofthe nanoparticles, wherein the second functional group comprises one ormore second oligonucleotides.
 28. A composition comprising: a pluralityof nanoparticles comprising a third functional group with bindingaffinity for vascular cell wall components operatively coupled to thesurface of the nanoparticles, wherein the third functional groupcomprises one or more lipids, one or more third oligonucleotides, or anycombination thereof.